How Nijmegen turned Green

European Green Capital 2018

For a whole year we were the European Green Capital. An achievement from the whole city. Young and old, with small and large initiatives. This document is a written and visual record of this year.

What is Nijmegen Green Capital

This short animationvideo from the Europese Commissie explains what the Europe Green Capital Award is.

Nijmegen was the European Green Capital in 2018. We were the first city in the Netherlands with the year-long honour of bearing that title. Our predecessors include cities like Copenhagen, Bristol, Ljubljana, and Essen.

We achieved this award through years of hard work towards making things greener and more sustainable. By “we”, we mean the entire city and its surroundings. “We” includes both young and old, participating in large and small initiatives.

The title of Sustainable Capital of Europe is an initiative by the European Commission to reward cities that strongly promote ecological, social, and economic sustainability. The Committee awards this prize annually to a European city at the forefront of environmental friendliness, circular economy, and sustainable waste management. With this initiative, they want to stimulate local organisations to be more engaged in sustainability.

​Mayor Bruls receives the Green Capital book from predecessor Essen, and officially opens the Green Capital year on 20 January

Celebrate!

The Green Capital title was celebrated by Nijmegen in a big way. We have shown the Netherlands and Europe that it is possible and how to achieve it. We invested in clean energy, smart mobility, and a greener living environment as well as more sustainable business and technological innovations.

The people of Nijmegen mainly experienced Green Capital through several highlights, such as the Wondertuin, the Spiegelwaal concert, King Willem-Alexander’s visit, Mobility Week, and Green Friday. A lot of inhabitants also participated in the activities of the Green Capital Challenges. There was debating, philosophising, music making, dancing, eating, and enjoyment.

Mayor Bruls opens the Wondertuin on 19 January

King Willem-Alexander on the pedestrian bridge Ooijpoort to the Stadswaard, 4 July

Picnic on the Waal bridge during Mobility Week, 16 September

Spiegelwaal concert on the Nevengeul, 20 June

The Green Capital Visitors Pavilion

How the title was won

Great joy in the network in Nijmegen when we win the title, 22 June 2016 (video Bert Lagerweij)

It is not easy to win the European Green Capital Award. We really had to prove that we earned the title by indicating what we had achieved in relation to twelve environmental criteria.

We didn’t win the first time. We needed three attempts to win the title for Nijmegen. We fell just short in Copenhagen and Bristol. Our commitment was rewarded in 2016.

We travelled to Ljubljana with a bus full of enthusiastic green thinkers and doers. Supported by all these committed citizens, Nijmegen presented itself to the international jury over several rounds.

The delegation from Nijmegen on the podium during the award ceremony in Ljubljana, 22 June 2016

The tension was unbearable during the award ceremony in the city hall in Ljubljana. It was also running high at Engie in Nijmegen, where the supporters had gathered to follow the proceedings. Everyone was elated when Nijmegen was crowned European Green Capital 2018.

Nijmegen won because of the different types of sustainable projects, like the Spiegelwaal, the many cycling paths, the clean buses, the way in which Nijmegen separates waste, and the wind turbine park along the A15.

We also won because not only the municipality, but also our inhabitants, schools, businesses, and many organisations in Nijmegen are working on sustainability. You need such a network if you really want to put sustainability on the map. This strong Nijmegen network has only grown larger and broader in 2018, and will continue to grow and flourish after 2018.

Concerned citiziens from Nijmegen depart to Lljubljana

The coachtrip to Lljubljana

The Award

The municipal delegation

The banner

A green wall at the Lljubeljana cityhall

A community effort

Art on garbage cans for the Walk of Waste

You are not the European Green Capital by yourself. Many different parties are involved in Nijmegen. Together you can achieve big results, even as a mid-sized city. Together means the municipality, committed inhabitants, the networks, partners and sponsors.

Green Capital Challenges

The Green Capital Challenges consist of a group of committed inhabitants who wanted to bring everyone on board in 2018 to make the city more sustainable. They chose twelve themes, such as waste, food, and energy. A different theme was chosen for every month in 2018. This yielded some wonderful results, such as the Waste Challenge, the Walk of Waste, the focus on vegetarian food in restaurants, a Circular Economy Model Home, Sit & Heat cushions, street furniture with incorporated electronic devices, and the Flowlands festival. Every theme was concluded with a Sustainability Cafe.

Relay baton

Every month, the baton was passed around Nijmegen. The idea for the relay baton was born the first time we tried to win the award. Residents participated in a relay: they ran, cycled, sailed, and swam to Copenhagen to hand the baton to the mayor. The baton contained a USB stick with the municipality’s presentation. Since then, the baton has been the symbol for all sustainability initiatives in the city. Also since then, a second baton with the theme of circular economy is going around the Province of Gelderland.

The Relay Baton

Partners

Other parties also joined in for Nijmegen Green Capital. About two hundred partners, large and small companies, organisations, and institutions signed a sustainability manifest. They promised to put sustainability even higher on their agenda. A significant number of companies also supported the Green Capital year with resources and money. A lot of support was received from the Province of Gelderland.

This was how a strong, sustainable network was established in Nijmegen in 2018, in which Power2Nijmegen, football club NEC, Green Capital Challenges, RvN, the Operatie Steenbreek network, and the Future Builders Network all collaborated to make themselves, their organisation, and the city more sustainable.

During the Flowlands Festival 250 people came into action, September 2

We are getting started

The big green Kidsclub

Of course, celebrating Green Capital of Europe for the year should be done on a large scale. In January, we opened the year with a brilliant festival.

Museum Het Valkhof served as the backdrop for the Wondertuin (Wonder garden) for three whole days. All of Nijmegen was invited so we could kick off the year together. There was something to do for everyone: young and old, doers, thinkers, and talkers. It was inspiring, stimulating, and had a good beat for dancing.

Speakers such as André Kuipers, Jan Terlouw, and Jelle Brandt Corstius were on hand. Not to mention music from Linde Schöne, Luwten, and Het Zusje van Debbie. For the young visitors, there was the Grote Groene Kidsklup (Great Green Kids Klub). Here, they could taste grasshoppers, make their own toothpaste, convert old equipment into new creations, and take a fairy tale walk through the Valkhofpark.

André Kuipers lecture during the Wondertuin

“It is better to be a vegetarian in a Hummer than a carnivore on a bicycle”
André Kuipers during the Wondertuin.​​​​​​

Official ceremony in the church

The official kick-off of the year took place in the Sint-Stevenskerk. The invited guests included Karmenu Vella, the European commissioner for the Environment, who awards the title to a different European city every year. Other guests included Secretary of Infrastructure and Water Management Stientje van Veldhoven, the King’s Commissioner for Gelderland Clemens Cornielje, environmental deputy Bea Schouten, the deputy mayors of the preceding Greeen Capital Essen and the forthcoming Green C apital Oslo, the mayor of Nijmegen Hubert Bruls, and city council member Harriët Tiemens, whose portfolio includes sustainability. Mayor Bruls was handed the book and the award by predecessor Essen.

In total, five thousand people attended the opening festival of Nijmegen European Green Capital 2018.

Januari 20th 2018 the Nijmegen Green Capital
year was officially opened in the St. Stevenschurch

Performance in the Visitors Pavilion

Visitors Pavilion made from logs

During the opening festival, the audience could take a sneak peek at the Visitors Pavilion at the Kelfkensbos. It was officially opened a month later. The arched building built from logs was designed by the Flemish architect Chris Poulissen, who also designed the bridge “De Oversteek” in Nijmegen. The unique interior design was done by Jordan Artisan. He provided a beautiful, sustainable, and recognisable design in which everyone can feel at home.

The pavilion was the “face” of the Green Capital as well as Nijmegen for the year. It was also because of the many volunteers that the people from Nijmegen and visitors to the city could contact on any given day and find out everything they wanted to know about the Green Capital. For instance, they would provide brochures about the Green Routes and information about events, activities, and the Green Capital Challenges. The pavilion is easy to disassemble, and will be rebuilt and reused elsewhere.

The Visitors Pavilion was build of local materials

Transition in five themes

You can’t make a city more sustainable by yourself. It will only be successful if you work on it together.

A lot of changes are on the horizon for the next few years. This is why we chose five themes for the Green Capital year, to symbolise the world’s current state of transition. It is a transition in which cities, like Nijmegen, play an increasingly large role.

Click on the buttons on the side to view the different themes.

For the innovative project Room for the River, a secondary channel was built and a new river park was created.

Energy transition

Happy with the sun and wind

Vibrant city

Green and healthy together

Climate adaptation

Living with water

Circular Economy

Everything has value

Sustainable mobility

Well on the way

Asset 2

Arjan Vernhout

Founder of NL Bloeit!

Vibrant city

Green and healthy together

Arjan Vernhout studied Business Administration. He has authored several books and is co-founder of the foundation NL bloeit!

“The basis for sustainability lies in the connection of the people with their environment.”
Arjan Vernhout

Vibrant city

Green and healthy together

Living, residing, working, re-creating, celebrating, experiencing. A vibrant city breathes, grows, is green, and provides space. It is a city that is a joy to stay in or to visit. A city with a young, green vibe.

A place where you can live by yourself, with your friends, family, and extended family in a safe and healthy environment. We are now also proud to say that Nijmegen is a wonderful green destination, because this year we also won the Green Destinations Gold Award 2018!

Green, healthy, and in motion. It is the name of a network, but is also the name of a movement in Nijmegen. How wonderful it is to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Nijmegen and nearby areas by walking, cycling, running, or swimming?

​Presentation of the Green Destinations Gold Award, 28 September 2018

Health is a recurring theme in Nijmegen’s cityscape. Organic, vegetarian, or vegan: it is all available in an increasing number of restaurants in Nijmegen. We want to know what we are eating.

We see this in all the food-related initiatives in Nijmegen. Kleurrijk Groen and its members care for a vegetable garden, Tuin Tot Tuin prepares a neighbourhood meal twice a week that includes vegetables harvested from their own garden, and in a few years’ time, we will be able to snack our way through the food forests that have been planted in Neerbosch-Oost and in Park West this past year.

A green city is a pleasant and healthy city. Making the city greener is not only a task for ourselves. We have also been asking our residents to remove stone from their gardens. And you must admit: we all enjoy the beautiful wild flowers in the Goffertweide or on the roof of De Bastei.

View the other themes by clicking the buttons in the green bar.

Snacking in the food forest

Planting trees together during Tree Planting Day, 21 March

Asset 2

Pim de Ridder

Director of Windpark Nijmegen-Betuwe

Energy transition

Happy with the sun and wind

Pim de Ridder is the director of the Windpark Nijmegen-Betuwe. He has lots of experience developing wind parks.

“Get fossil fuels out and sustainable energy in. That’s the way forward.”
Pim de Ridder

Energy transition

Happy with the sun and wind

The energy transition is one of the most important changes of the coming years. If we want to keep the earth inhabitable, we will need to switch to sustainable energy resources. Solar energy, wind energy, and no more gas.

We can’t do it alone. We have to do it together. It requires commitment from inhabitants and businesses. It demands smart solutions, such as the Sit & Heat cushions, that can replace unsustainable terrace heaters.

Projects like the wind park, Sit & Heat, and the apple pie discussions (sustainability talks held during meals) have been given an extra push during this Green Capital year. The Hengstal neighbourhood is in the middle of experimenting with living without gas, just like warmte.nu in the Wolfskuil.

The Circular Economy Model Home does not use gas

Energy transition was the main focus of the Green Capital year for residential corporations such as Talis, Standvast, and De Gemeenschap. In the years to come, they will do large-scale roll-outs of the pilots that they started in 2018. The heating grid is in place and will be expanded upon. Switch to sustainable and ditch the gas!Bekijk ook de andere thema's door op de buttons te klikken.

View the other themes by clicking the buttons in the green bar.

Solar panels on the roof in Neerbosch-Oost

Asset 2

Margot Ribberink

Meteorologist | Ambassador of Green Capital 2018

Climate adaptation

Living with water

Margot Ribberink studied Biology in Nijmegen and presented the weather on RTL4 for many years. Margot has been actively involved in sustainability initiatives in Nijmegen, such as Operatie Steenbreek.

Climate adaptation

Living with water

We experience climate change on a daily basis. For 2018, this resulted in a highly unusual year, with a cold spring and a long, dry, and hot summer.

We will have to work hard in the coming years to limit the consequences of climate change and we will have to adapt to it.

The Spiegelwaal is a beautiful example of how a city can adapt, by giving space to the water.

​The Waal and Spiegelwaal from above

The Waal gave us a great example of climate change this year: in January, the water was up to quays and the floodplains were inundated. In November, we could nearly touch the bottom of the Waal because of the sustained dry spell. It is a pattern that we will see more often and more severely in the coming years.

Inhabitants became involved in this story during Green Capital year in Operatie Steenbreek (Operation Stone Breaking). We swapped out over 100,000 stones for greenery. Making the city greener is important to combat overheating. A city, with all its concrete and tiles, can be 7 degrees hotter than the surrounding areas. Rainwater does not drain as well in a tiled garden, either. The rainwater ends up in the sewer, causing it to overflow.

Of course, we also really enjoyed ourselves this year. Swimming and sunbathing at the Spiegelwaal, the Spiegelwaal concert, and drinking that wonderful Parapluvius beer, which Brewery de Hemel and Green Capital Challenge Water managed to brew from rainwater.

View the other themes by clicking the buttons in the green bar.

During Tree Planting Day 32 elementary schools from Nijmegen planted almost 6000 trees, March 14

Asset 2

Harriette Laurijsen

Radboud university medical center policy advisor for sustainability

Circular Economy

Everything has value

Harriette Laurijsen is the senior policy advisor of sustainability at Radboud university medical center.

“My passion is in the area of environment and sustainability. It is broad, always developing, and it motivates you to always keep an eye on the long term.”
Harriette Laurijsen

Circular Economy

Everything has value

The global population is constantly on the rise. All these people use a lot of resources. This means that we have an increasing demand for raw materials. We are depleting the earth, so much so that we actually need 3.2 Earths for the standard of living that we have in the Netherlands.

To decrease the demand, we have to start re-using raw materials wherever possible. This can be done in a circular economy. This means products are designed and produced in such a way that we can re-use raw materials and parts over and over.

A lot of activities and initiatives regarding circular economy were started in Nijmegen during the Green Capital year. Mayor Bruls was handed a mayoral collar made from gold and silver taken from old smartphones and the Circular Economy Model Home was opened. The Circular Economy Festival took place in May on the Honig property.

We can stimulate a circular economy by requiring producers, when purchasing products and services, to create their products in line with circular economy principles. It is also important that they record which raw materials were used and where they were acquired. By working together with other suppliers in the chain, new earnings models can be created.

A good example is the Visitors Pavilion. This building has been designed in such a way that it can be completely disassembled. All its parts can be re-used as well.

​Placement of the Eco Lounge in the Valkhofpark

The circular economy yields surprising examples. Circular fencing was placed in the floodplains in the past year. It was made from used clothing and recycled plastic. Bus shelters were placed throughout the city. Some have green roofs, they feature led lighting, and they are all made from recycled materials. Blue Eco Lounges were placed in the Goffert, Brakkenstein, and other parks: these are made from the plastic from smartphones and computers.Bekijk ook de andere thema's door op de buttons te klikken.

View the other themes by clicking the buttons in the green bar.

Short video about circular initiatives in Nijmegen

Asset 2

Jesse van Hulst

Bicycle messenger for Velocity

Sustainable mobility

Well on the way

Jesse van Hulst studied Social Geography in Nijmegen and is a real adventurer on his bicycle. However, he also makes interesting journeys on his longboard, like climbing the Alp d’Huez.

“My love for human powered transport started when I rolled of the roof of the Delft University on a longboard” (true story)

Jesse van Hulst

Sustainable mobility

Well on the way

There was a good reason that it was Dutch Bicycle City and the host of Velocity in 2016. Extra cycling paths were constructed during the Green Capital year. The Nijmegen-Cuijk bicycle freeway was opened at the start of the year. Now, we have over 70 kilometres of rapid cycling roadways. A lot of people, about 65%, use their bicycle to get to the city.

Our public transport has been sustainable for years. City buses run on biogas in the whole of the Nijmegen-Arnhem region. This gas is made near Nijmegen from organic waste. The young Nijmegen Wijkreporters researched how this was done.

The green Wijkreporters visited the incinerator where they found out how kitchen and garden waste is turned into biogas

Driving an electric car is becoming more popular: an increasing number of drivers are considering buying an electric car. Residents of Nijmegen could find out more about it and take a test drive during the activities of the Green Capital Challenges and Mobility Week. This week was filled with activities: from sustainable ship transport to tearing up the road during the Hydrogen challenge. The main event was a picnic on the car-free Waal bridge for a thousand people and a mobility theatre on the bridge later that day.

Nijmegen is located on the Waal, one of the most travelled rivers in the Netherlands. It is important that inland shipping becomes more sustainable for the air quality. This is why we are happy to present the Nijmegen Accord, the sustainable inland shipping agreement. Sustainable shore power is available for cruise ships and other inland navigation vessels.

European role model

Signing the “Declaration of Nijmegen” during the Port and the Cities conference, 13 April

One of our ambitions as Green Capital was to show other mid-sized cities inside and outside of the Netherlands how we work on sustainability in our city, and how we take our inhabitants along on this journey.

We introduced ourselves to the rest of the world through our website and the attention that we received both nationally and internationally. Newspapers, professional literature /magazines, television, and social media all reported on the Green Capital year in Nijmegen.

However, a lot of people came to see Nijmegen in person. There were directors, politicians, and visitors to numerous events as well as tourists. Using the Visitors Pavilion as the starting point, we told the story of our sustainable past, present, and future of our city with the Green Routes in hand or with experienced guides.

It was revealed in Nijmegen halfway through the year, during Green Week, that Lisbon would be European Green Capital for 2020. The absolute highlight of Green Week was the Spiegelwaal concert, which was not only enjoyed by the delegations from Europe and the nominated cities, but also by the people of Nijmegen.

Another highlight was the Mayors’ Conference on 23 November, where 22 cities from the Green Capital Network signed a Call for Action which was presented during the COP24 climate conference in Katowice, Poland. In the Call for Action, the cities commit to further increase their efforts to make their cities even more sustainable.

In doing so, Nijmegen plays an important role in improving sustainability worldwide. We should be proud of that!

During the Mayors Conference, 22 cities signed the Call for Action, November 23

International Events

April 19

»

Ports and the city, agreement closed about sustainable shipping

late May

»

Agroforesty conference about greening the surroundings of Nijmegen

June 14-24

»

Green Capital Week, foreign delegations visit Nijmegen

summer

»

Four Days Marches

September 20

»

Water & smart cities: European Water association visits Nijmegen

September 16-22

»

European Mobility Week about sustainable transportation

September 27

»

Toerism conference Green Destinations, Nijmegen wins the Gold Award

early October

»

Ecoprocura, international conference about sustainable procurement

October

»

Cleanmed, international conference about sustainable care

November

»

Sustainability in Sports, sustainable sporting

November

»

RREUSE, international conference for secondhand shops

Green Friday

It was fantastic to be the European Green Capital of 2018. Of course, we ended this year with a celebration for each other and the city. We celebrated Green Friday on 14 December. We rolled up our sleeves for the day to make Nijmegen even greener and even more beautiful.

All sorts of things were under way. We cleaned beaches at the Waal and the surroundings of the Goffert Stadium. We planted a lot of trees and shrubs, organised a green city quiz, and provided tours of the city. We removed stones and tidied parks and streets.

After all that physical effort, we assembled at the Kelfkensbos in the late afternoon for the spectacular light show by Glow Green. It was a brief yet powerful highlight of the day.

Then it was time to party! Everyone was invited: activities included the film premiere of Green Tales of the City and performances by all types of bands, and theatre at De Lindenberg, LUX, Doornroosje, and the Schouwburg. A festive end to a festive year.

2018 and beyond

2018 was an eventful year. There were many different activities, both big and small: from local to international, concerts to conferences, sports to debates, and films to parties.

We look back on an energetic year of which the effects will be felt far into the future. 2018 was the start of a green wave. We have only just begun. But we can already list a number of results already.

200

big and small scale conferences, lectures and festivals

14.000

professionals welcomed

71.000

visitors at public events

16.000

visitors of the pavilion

Nothing is going to stop us

The European Green Capital Award has put Nijmegen firmly on the European map as a city with sustainability in its DNA. A large group of enthusiastic people have carried this spirit across the year.

The green movement gained momentum and has broadened in 2018. Not everyone has been reached, though - that’s impossible to do in one year. This is why we will keep working on a sustainable, green city that is wonderful to live in.

Green Capital is the start of a green wave that will roll on beyond 2018. Once a sustainable capital, always a sustainable capital! For 2019, we are working on an open sustainability network and a programme for it. The focus will be on the themes of a healthy city, green city, and circular economy.

We want to increase the impact that sustainable initiatives in the city have on the region. You can be sure that Green Capital is worth the investment!

What we take along...

Hubert Bruls | mayor of the city of Nijmegen

Mayor Bruls is chairman of the Advisory Board of Nijmegen Green Capital. This board represents local organisations connected to the Green Capital year. Furthermore, Bruls represented Nijmegen Green Capital inside and outside of the Netherlands.

Petra Steenbergen | ambasador Operatie Steenbreek

Petra is an inhabitant of Nijmegen and a participant in Operatie Steenbreek. After her garden was part of Operatie Steenbreek, she became a true ambasador for the project.

Abo Rassa | Network Colourful Green

During the Green Capital year Abo Rassa committed himself to sustainability. With the Netwotk Colourful Green he involved various people with different cultural backgrounds in sustainable initiatives.

Antoine Driessen | chairman of the board Rabobank Rijk van Nijmegen

Antoine is part of the program committee of Nijmegen Green Capital. In this committee he represents the industry in the region of Nijmegen. He believes it is important to involve entrepreneurs in the sustainable transition.

Inge Hoetjes | ambassador Visitor Pavilion

In 2018 Inge was an ambasador of the Visitors Pavilion, together with her collegues she welcomed thousands of visitors in the pavilion.

Colophon

Concept en coordination: Sonja Willems (Binder Online Video)

Development: Bram Linssen Webontwikkeling

Design: Bas Reijnen

Text and editing: Janke Rozemuller en Yvonne Keijzers

Video’s 5 theme's: Bas Govaarts

Photography and video: various photographers

We would like to thank

Everybody who voluntarily devoted him/herself to Nijmegen European Green Capital